‘……substitute subject.’

I couldn’t hear properly, but at that time, I couldn’t understand at all what those words meant.

Anger surged to the top of her head at the boy who had been disrespectful to her, the First Imperial Princess of the Empire.

However, remembering that she must not forget her duty as an Imperial Princess, she hurriedly moved her steps.

She intended to give a flick on the head to the arrogant boy.

Just as Mrs. Keyton, who was in charge of etiquette education, had done to me when I didn’t listen.

‘How dare! To me……’

And before she could reach out her hand to him, someone stopped her.

It was the former Duke of Cardia.

He wrapped around the boy as if protecting someone precious.

And he looked down at her with a cold gaze.

His purple eyes held a clear warning. As if to say he wouldn’t let it slide if she dared to be presumptuous again.

The atmosphere was quite strange.

It seemed more like protecting a master to be served rather than a father and son.

And at that time, there was no adult anywhere to protect her, who had secretly slipped out of class, eluding the knights and maids.

She burst into tears pitifully, but Duke Cardia did not comfort her and left the place with the boy.

A maid who found her belatedly hugged her in bewilderment, but the incident remained in her memory for quite a while.

It was too old an incident, and because it wasn’t a very good memory, she tried to forget it quickly.

Fortunately, she was too busy, and at some point, she forgot about that incident.

But as soon as she encountered something that would make her recall that memory again, it came flooding back.

‘The Duke of Cardia and the young duke. They didn’t look alike at all.’

‘That’s because, Your Highness, the mother of the young Duke of Cardia was of lowly blood.’

‘His mother is lowly? I heard the Duchess of Cardia was the daughter of a great lord of the west?’

‘Well… they say the Duke brought the child in from outside.’

‘Brought a child from outside? ……Why?’

To her who couldn’t understand, the maid opened her mouth only after some hesitation.

‘Your Highness, can you keep this a secret from Her Majesty the Empress? You must! You absolutely must not say that I told you, alright?’

Only after repeated entreaties did the maid divulge everything she knew about the Duke of Cardia’s origins.

The Duchess of Cardia couldn’t have a child for a long time after marriage, and the Duke of Cardia, who needed an heir to continue the family line, brought in an illegitimate child from outside.

But of all things, the partner was of Northern immigrant descent……

Only then did she understand.

The reason why they said the mother of the young Duke of Cardia was of lowly blood.

At that time, she thought it must be true.

The former Duke of Cardia had dark blonde hair and purple eyes, and the former Duchess of Cardia had blonde hair and blue eyes.

It wouldn’t have been a big problem even if Cabelased was born with an appearance somewhat different from his parents.

Although uncommon, it was said that among the Northern immigrants, some were born with black hair or red eyes.

If it’s true that Cabelased had a mother of Northern immigrant descent, that is.

Then what was that portrait of a woman resembling the former Empress that she saw when visiting the Duke of Cardia’s residence?

‘And what’s the reason for keeping silent about being born on the Founding Day……’

Still, that portrait bothered her.

She was holding a newborn baby, and although the child’s eyes were tightly closed, the hair was clearly black.

“……”

Jieselgrante furrowed her brow as she glared at the red eyes of the First Emperor in the portrait.

Thinking about why the First Emperor and Cabelased looked so strikingly similar.

Was seeing the portrait of the First Emperor the root of the problem?

Jieselgrante’s steps were somewhat heavy as she left the secret archive.

When she entered the banquet hall, the congratulatory speech had ended, and the Emperor and Empress were about to start their first dance.

As she watched the paired nobles taking their places on the dance floor one by one, Jieselgrante entered the banquet hall listlessly.

Just then, Mikhail, who had been lingering near the entrance, spotted her and approached.

“Jiesel, nothing happened, right?”

Mikhail asked with a worried expression, probably because her expression wasn’t bright.

Jieselgrante answered with a forced smile.

“It just took a little time to receive the tools for thread organization right away.”

“I see, how about… since you’ve come this far, would you like to dance?”

Mikhail asked, gesturing towards the dance floor with his eyes.

As far as she knew, Mikhail hated dancing very much.

She had only seen Mikhail dance with a lady in public once, and that was at the debutante ball.

The debutante ball only ended when men and women paired up to dance, and Mikhail danced just one song with a deadpan expression.

And the reason she remembered that part was because of the maids.

Even if she didn’t pay special attention to it, the interests of the ladies couldn’t help but reach her ears.

Unmarried ladies were as interested in Mikhail as they were in Cabelased, which was quite natural in a way.

Mikhail was the only one who didn’t look significantly less attractive even next to Cabelased, and he was set to become the next head of the Amaterasu Duke’s family, which was said to be born with good brains.

So he couldn’t help but receive all the attention from the ladies.

Moreover, Mikhail’s attitude of being consistently unkind to all women also appealed to the ladies.

They say he seems like he would only treat his woman well……

Anyway, after the debutante ball, Mikhail had never danced in public, and Jieselgrante had once asked him casually in passing.

Why he didn’t dance.

Mikhail said that laughing and spinning around in front of everyone made him feel like a clown in a circus troupe.

For such a person to suggest dancing……?

“You want to… dance with me?”

“Why… don’t you want to?”

Although Mikhail was asking for her opinion, wondering if she didn’t want to dance, he also had an unsatisfied expression.

“You look like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse. Right now.”

At Jieselgrante’s blunt words, Mikhail let out a small “Ah” and hurriedly covered his eyes with his hands.

Then he peeked at Jieselgrante through the gaps between his fingers.

“Did I… look like that?”

“Yes.”

Jieselgrante nodded firmly.

Soon, Mikhail’s head turned towards the ladies dancing on the dance floor in fluttering dresses.

As she watched Mikhail staring blankly at them dancing with bright faces, spinning round and round, she guessed the reason why he suggested dancing despite not wanting to.

“Don’t tell me… you suggested dancing because you thought I wouldn’t receive any dance invitations from anyone?”

“That’s absolutely not it! Everyone must be itching to dance with you, right? And Jiesel, you’re so pretty……”

Mikhail shook his head vigorously and listed her merits.

No one was asking Jieselgrante to dance, and it seemed like he was trying to comfort her, thinking she might feel intimidated by the situation.

The Founding Day celebration was a big event where many nobles of the empire gathered, and if she were to leave the imperial palace without dancing with anyone, it would prove how unpopular she was.

So Mikhail must be worrying about her reputation, which couldn’t get any worse.

Behind Mikhail, who was earnestly making excuses, worried that Jieselgrante might feel upset, a familiar face appeared.

It was Cabelased.

“…?”

He was conversing with some ladies.

It was when she was looking in that direction, surprised by the unexpected situation.

She couldn’t hear what Cabelased said, but the lady standing in front of him turned around abruptly with a bright red face.

Then she ran out of the banquet hall.

The other ladies with her glared at Cabelased and followed after the lady who had run out first.

Mikhail, who had been watching the scene following Jieselgrante’s gaze, widened his eyes.

Soon, with an expression as if he had a good idea, Mikhail said.

“Wait here for a moment, Jiesel.”

Then he approached Cabelased.

It seemed he was probably going to ask Cabelased to dance with Jieselgrante instead of him.

“…I really don’t mind.”

Just as she furrowed her brow, watching Mikhail who cared more about her reputation than his own, she heard giggling laughter.

She turned her head towards the direction of the laughter.

The Marchioness Ratse, who was heading to the dance floor arm in arm with some man, glanced at Jieselgrante standing alone and said.

“It seems there’s someone who hasn’t received a single dance invitation yet.”

At the blatantly mocking gaze, Jieselgrante turned towards the Marchioness Ratse.

And just as she was about to approach her and say something.

“Jiesel.”

Mikhail and Cabelased approached her.

Extending his hand in front of her, Cabelased said.

“Would you honor me with your first dance, my lady?”

Not only Jieselgrante’s eyes but also the eyes of the Marchioness Ratse, who was watching this, widened as if they would pop out.

Mikhail also had an expression of surprise.

It was ironic that only Cabelased, who had asked her to dance, seemed the most calm.